AXIAL AIR GAP MACHINE HAVING STATOR AND ROTOR DISCS FORMED OF MULTIPLE DETACHABLE SEGMENTS

• US 20100007225A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clean Current Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Clean Current Power Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Young, Virgil F., Platon, Mihai C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,222,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/45
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/14 Stator cores with salient poles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/18 Means for mounting or fastening magnetic stationary parts on to, or to, the stator structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/2796 where both axial sides of the rotor face a stator
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/0094 Structural association with other electrical or electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/049 Rectifiers associated with stationary parts, e.g. stator cores
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/02 Machines with one stator and two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/04 Machines with one rotor and two stators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/24 with magnets axially facing the armatures, e.g. hub-type cycle dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/15 Sectional machines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/06 Machines characterised by the presence of fail safe, back up, redundant or other similar emergency arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/12 Machines characterised by the modularity of some components
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/031 of the permanent magnet type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/08 Insulating casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1869 Linear generators; sectional generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 Dynamoelectric machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49012 Rotor

Abstract

A generator or motor apparatus having a stator formed of a plurality of pairs of parallel stator segments is provided The pairs of parallel segments are connected together to form a channel in which an annular rotor moves The annular rotor also comprises a plurality of detachable segments connected together to form an annular tram operable to move through said channel Each stator segment comprises a stator winding set and each rotor segment comprises a magnet dimensioned to fit between the parallel spaced apart stator segments The apparatus may include a support structure, the rotor segments being slidably coupled to the support structure and the stator segments being attached the support structure The apparatus may be a rim generator, wind turbine generator or other electrical machine The stator winding set includes a winding, and may include other electrical or electronic components, including possibly a power factor capacitor, direct current filtering capacitor, supercapacitor, and one or more diodes The stator winding set nay be encapsulated within the stator segment

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. An electromechanical apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of substantially parallel and spaced apart stator segments comprising first and second stator segments, each stator segment of said pair comprising a stator winding; and

(b) a rotor segment slidably coupled between said pair of stator segments, said rotor segment comprising at least one magnet.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein at least one of said each stator segment and said rotor segment is encapsulated in encapsulating material.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein each said encapsulated stator segment is operable in at least one of an electrically conductive, a corrosive, and a immersed marine environment.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said stator windings of said first and second stator segments are electrically connected.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said each stator segment comprises a stator core operable to support said stator winding.

40. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each said stator segment is at least one of substantially magnetically decoupled and substantially thermally decoupled.

41. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each said stator winding in each said stator segment is at least one of substantially magnetically decoupled and substantially thermally decoupled.

42. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein each said encapsulated stator segment and each said encapsulated rotor segment is operable in at least one of an electrically conductive, a corrosive and an immersed marine environment.

43. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a plurality of said pairs of stator segments, said plurality forming a circumferential channel, and further comprising a plurality of said rotor segments forming an annular train operable to move through said channel.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein at least two of said pairs of stator segments are connectable to form at least one of:

a series orientation, a parallel orientation, and a multi-phase alternating current electrical output.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said plurality of pairs of stator segments are further connectable such that said pairs of stator segments are substantially fault tolerant of a fault in at least one such pair of stator segments.

46. The apparatus according to claim 43, additionally comprising a gap between said circumferential channel and said annular chain, wherein said gap is flooded with at least one of:

an electrically conductive fluid, a corrosive fluid, and seawater.

47. The apparatus according to claim 43, further comprising a support structure, wherein said plurality of pairs of stator segments are attachable to said support structure and said train is slidably coupled to said support structure, and wherein said support structure comprises either a rim of a rim generator or a hub.

48. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein one or more said magnets of said plurality of said rotor segments are angled relative to one or more corresponding stator windings of said plurality of said pairs of stator segments.

49. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said at least one magnet is a permanent magnet.

50. The apparatus according to claim 36 further comprising at least one of:

a) an AC capacitor operable to compensate a power factor of said apparatus wherein said AC capacitor is encapsulated with said first stator segment;

a) one or more diodes encapsulated with at least one stator segment wherein said one or more diodes are electrically connectable to rectify an alternating current output of said apparatus;

b) a DC capacitor operable to reduce direct current ripple of said apparatus wherein said DC capacitor is encapsulated with one of said first and second stator segments;

c) an inverter operable to produce an alternating current output from a direct current output of said apparatus; and

d) a DC-DC converter operable to convert a direct current output of said apparatus from a first voltage to a second voltage different from said first voltage.

51. The apparatus according to claim 35, said apparatus additionally comprising:

(a) an output electrical component electrically connectable to said stator winding of said first stator segment; and

(b) encapsulating means for encapsulating said output electrical component and said first stator segment.

52. The apparatus according to claim 35, said apparatus further comprising support means for supporting said pair of stator segments, wherein said rotor segment is slidably coupled to said support means.

53. A method of producing an electromechanical apparatus, the method comprising:

(a) manufacturing a plurality of pairs of substantially parallel and spaced apart stator segments, each said pair comprising first and second stator segments, each stator segment of said each pair comprising a stator winding;

(b) manufacturing a plurality of a rotor segments, wherein each said rotor segment is dimensioned to fit between said each pair of stator segments, said each rotor segment comprising at least one magnet;

(c) assembling said plurality of pairs of stator segments to form a circumferential channel; and

(d) assembling said plurality of rotor segments to form an annular train of said rotor segments slidably coupled to said plurality of pairs of stator segments and operable to move through said channel.

54. The method according to claim 53 wherein said step of manufacturing a plurality of rotor segments comprises encapsulating at least one of said each rotor segment and said each stator segment in encapsulating material.

55. The method according to claim 54 wherein said step of encapsulating said each stator segment comprises encapsulating at least one of:

an output electrical component;

a capacitor; and

a diode;

with said first stator segment.

56. The method according to claim 53, wherein said step of assembling said plurality of pairs of stator segments comprises attaching said plurality of pairs of stator segments to a support structure of the apparatus.